LOS ANGELES - The last time he was at a Democratic National Convention, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley was a 21-year-old floor leader in San Francisco for Gary Hart, caught up in floor fights with the supporters of Walter F. Mondale.

Britney--she's not just for kids anymore.
The eye- and ear-popping new tour starring "the reigning queen of teen pop," as Spears has been introduced of late, is unequivocally a show that a lot of discriminating pop fans over 20 might latch on to--if they...

A Man of Many Passions Transformed The Times
Had Otis Chandler never worked a single day, his would have been a memorable life. An Olympic-caliber athlete, a champion weightlifter, an accomplished race car driver, big game hunter, surfer, cyclist,...

Luciano Pavarotti, the Italian tenor with a glorious voice that made him the opera world's greatest star as he brought classical singing to the masses on a scale never before imagined, died today. He was 71.
The singer, who had been diagnosed with...

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne are doing some housecleaning.
The 58-year-old rocker and his wife are selling art, furniture and collectibles from their homes in Malibu, Beverly Hills and England.
The Nov. 30 auction will also feature items from their MTV...

After watching the Golden Globes gala implode last weekend in the face of the Writers Guild of America strike, the organizers of the 50th Annual Grammy Awards began a campaign Tuesday to preserve their Feb. 10 show.
The American Federation of Musicians, the largest union for professional musicians, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, which represents 70,000 entertainers, issued a joint statement supporting the producers of the Grammys and their bid for a waiver from the WGA....

Sexism or just an expression?
Re "Debate goes from pork to pigs," Sept. 10
I entered the business world in 1969, and I know all there is to know about sexism. Sexism is asking for a raise and being told, "You're making good money for a woman." Sexism is quitting a job and finding out that a man was hired to replace you at twice the salary. Sexism is being asked if you will be able to handle an executive job if you have children.
The expression "You can put lipstick on a pig and it will still be a pig"...

Today's topic: The premise of Measure E is that Los Angeles is losing jobs and investment to other cities. How big a problem is that, and what's the root cause? City Councilman Greig Smith and mayoral candidate Walter Moore debate Measure E.
Stopping the job bleeding Point: Greig Smith
The problem cannot be underestimated: The population of Los Angeles has grown by 1 million over the last 30 years, but we have lost 50,000 net jobs. That was before the national economic crisis, which has sent L.A.'s...

In Los Angeles, Magic Johnson needs little introduction. The storied former Lakers point guard is now equally well-known for his community-minded business endeavors. His Magic Johnson Enterprises-affiliated companies and licensing deals make him a big player in L.A., and his name graces movie theaters nationwide, including an AMC-owned multiplex at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. When he's not traveling, the former NBA MVP likes to spend his weekends in the Southland.
Meet me in the lobby
Friday night...

To lure a Lowe's home improvement store to Pico Boulevard, the city of Los Angeles agreed to spend $14.3 million.
To bring a Costco and a Best Buy to Pacoima, the city provided $18.7 million. And to attract a seven-story residential project to Chinatown, city officials agreed to contribute at least $41 million in state, federal and local funds.
So it might seem odd that the city's politicians and business leaders are pushing Measure E, a proposal on the March 3 ballot that asks voters to explicitly...

Latinos in Los Angeles embracing local sports teams is nothing new. Anyone who witnessed Fernando Val­enzuela ignit­ing the 1980s groundswell of support for Dodgers baseball that engulfed the city in Fernandomania could tell you that, although at the time it was considered a one-shot phenomenon.
So much for unique occurrencesits happening again, only this time its the Lakers. Southern Californians of every cultural background love sports, thats for sure. Fans have packed stadiums and arenas for...